Two brothers have signed up to become on-call firefighters in Swanscombe.

Sam and Luke Walker were taken on earlier this year as part of a county-wide recruitment campaign.

After an induction weekend, six weekly training evenings and a two week training course, they joined colleagues at Swanscombe fire station.

Sam, a 24-year-old self-employed builder, said: “It’s been a life-time ambition of mine to become a firefighter. There’s so much to learn but the training teaches you a lot about yourself and is very demanding.”

Luke, 20, a maintenance worker on the underground, said: “It’s been physical and challenging but really enjoyable. The fact that we are here to help people is what really made me join.”

The brothers carry a pager which means they are able to get to the station within five minutes of being called.